Trojans’ Funk breaks cross-country record
New personal records set at Berean
Staff writer
For three years, former Trojan standout Abby Driggers’ 23:43 has been the time to beat for varsity girls.
It finally gave way Thursday with freshman Emeryson Funk finished over half a minute faster than Driggers at 22:59.
The last time the Trojan cross- country team was in action, the Sept. 18 meet at Southeast of Saline was in sweltering, humid heat.
Nine days later and with temperatures hovering in the 50s, Trojan coach Kodi Panzer prepared a strategy for her team competing at Berean at the Harvey County East Park.
“Times are typically slower when it’s that warm,” Panzer said. “I encouraged the team to think of the SES race as a training run for Berean. It worked and they all improved.”
Foes might want to think up a better strategy for beating Hillsboro seventh-grader Levi Allen.
Allen stayed on the rampage, remaining unbeaten on the year with a 5:55 time in the mile run.
Joining Allen on the rampage were the eighth grade girls’ trio of Moriah Jost, Ainsley Duell, and Karley Loewen, posting top 7 finishes on the two-mile course.
Jost took third in 15:01 with Duell hot on her tail in fourth, at 15:35.
Loewen rounded out the top seven in 17:12.
Eighth grade boys’ division Josh Diener has been consistent putting up times 7 minutes better than last year’s personal record.
Diener sped up to a new best in 17:16.
Millie Sechrist also sped up, shaving two minutes off her previous races of the year at 28:02.
In junior varsity boys’ action, Nathan Lopez finished in 26:28.
Closing out the day was the varsity boys, with all finishers posting new individual records.
Pacing Hillsboro was Caleb Diener, taking fourth overall in 17:53.
Injuries have kept Carson Linnens out of action through three meets.
Linnens showed no signs of rust, returning Thursday to cut his 5-kilometer time down from 28 minutes to 22:08.
Senior leader Tucker Moss is inching closer to his 19:00 goal in 20:56.
Jason Latham’s 24:52 and Orin Blecha’s 25:37 were new bests to round out Hillsboro competitors.
The Trojans travel Thursday to Sterling.